ON/OFF MIA Interview

This exclusive MIA interview was conducted by The Future Tense as part of the ON/OFF project.

Details of ON/OFF can be found here and a full list of featured interviews can be found here.

Each artist was asked the same series of questions relating to the live music experience, before being photographed just before and again immediately after performing.

Artist: MIA

Interviewee: MIA

Venue: The Academy, Leeds

Date: November 20th 2010

What is your most memorable live moment as a fan?

There are so many, but Chemical Brothers at Glastonbury sticks in the mind. It was great for all the obvious reasons!

What is your most memorable live moment as a performer?

My favourite performance was until very recently my worst one! I played Berlin in 2004 and I was doing three songs with an acetate of beats that just kept skipping, so I ended up doing the whole lot acappella. At the time it was just the worst thing ever, but looking back now it was the best.

Have you had any disasters on stage?

I seem to have bad luck with my trousers ripping on stage. In Sweden once I had a pocket full of tampons, and I bent over and it started raining tampons on my fans! Not a good look.

Do you have any live performance aspirations?

I’d love to do shows in Palestine and Mongolia.

Any pre/post performance rituals?

I’ve been told I’ve got changealitis! I turn up every time saying I’m going to wear what I’ve got on, and end up changing ten times in the last few minutes.

The Future Tense is a curator-led arts initiative delivering an eclectic mix of exhibitions, events and special projects, both independently as well as in conjunction with some of the leading museums, galleries, publishers and cultural brands.

As a pioneer of the gallery-less gallery, and with a strong focus on discovering and fostering emerging talent, The Future Tense quickly developed a reputation for its rigorous approach and unrelenting focus on quality, before expanding to offer an alternative channel for established international artists.

Aside from the traditional programme of exhibitions, art fairs and fine art editions, The Future Tense originates, produces and delivers a wide range of special projects, including co-founding the prestigious annual MTV RE:DEFINE art benefit in Dallas.